21
Apr '20
Don’t Let DOUBT Steer Your Ship
21
Apr '20
Have you ever thought about what was going on a week after the Resurrection? What were the Disciples doing and how were they carrying on with their business? Could they really believe just a week ago, the tomb laid empty because Jesus had risen from the grave. Lets look into what the gospels have to say about what the twelve were doing and if they still believe.
John 20:24-29 tells us that Thomas was not with the 12 when Jesus met with them the first time. The 12 told Thomas about the first event and he said he would not believe (doubting Thomas) until he could see and touch (even put his finger in the holes where the nails were placed) the scars on Jesus.
Vs. 26 says, “a week later…”. We see here that Thomas is with the other disciples and Jesus shows up. We may doubt but Jesus will answer the doubt (it may take time so don’t get discouraged). My sub notes say this, “Some people need to doubt before they believe. If doubt leads to questions, questions leads to answers, and the answers are accepted, then doubt has done good work. It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a prideful lifestyle that doubt harms faith.”
Wow, doubt can be good if it causes us to search and we let the Lord reveal to us His plan (takes patience). When we don’t get the answer(s) we want or in the time frames we think it ought to come in, doubt can cause us to not believe and therefore say, “We don’t need God, and what has He done for me?”
Thomas believed and said, “My Lord and my God”. Jesus followed up with …blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Where are You and I? Do we believe? Are we doubting and searching or are we doubting and giving up? We must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6)
Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of the disciples (they believed). He will do many in front of us (as we believe).
If you are doubting anything, start or keep searching the scriptures. Buddy up with a mentor and grow. Don’t become stubborn and let it turn to pride (Proverbs 16:18-19).
John 20:24-29 tells us that Thomas was not with the 12 when Jesus met with them the first time. The 12 told Thomas about the first event and he said he would not believe (doubting Thomas) until he could see and touch (even put his finger in the holes where the nails were placed) the scars on Jesus.
Vs. 26 says, “a week later…”. We see here that Thomas is with the other disciples and Jesus shows up. We may doubt but Jesus will answer the doubt (it may take time so don’t get discouraged). My sub notes say this, “Some people need to doubt before they believe. If doubt leads to questions, questions leads to answers, and the answers are accepted, then doubt has done good work. It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a prideful lifestyle that doubt harms faith.”
Wow, doubt can be good if it causes us to search and we let the Lord reveal to us His plan (takes patience). When we don’t get the answer(s) we want or in the time frames we think it ought to come in, doubt can cause us to not believe and therefore say, “We don’t need God, and what has He done for me?”
Thomas believed and said, “My Lord and my God”. Jesus followed up with …blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Where are You and I? Do we believe? Are we doubting and searching or are we doubting and giving up? We must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6)
Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of the disciples (they believed). He will do many in front of us (as we believe).
If you are doubting anything, start or keep searching the scriptures. Buddy up with a mentor and grow. Don’t become stubborn and let it turn to pride (Proverbs 16:18-19).
Check out I Peter 1:3-9 for extra study. It complements!!
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12
Apr '20
He is Risen; He’s ALIVE!
12
Apr '20
We arise this morning out of bed to a day we set aside to Celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (we actually celebrate it every day).
Jesus spent time teaching His disciples that He would go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law and that He must be killed and on the third day be RAISED TO LIFE (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22).
Ironically, in Luke’s account (9:21), Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone. Why? Is it because they still did not fully understand His role as the Messiah? Yes, He was the conquering King that the scriptures spoke about, But He would die first (pay for the sins of the world, and defeat death) so that we might live. It would be later that they would fully understand how God had it worked out Jesus’ path (just as we will one day, we will understand how God has it worked out for You and I). The disciples needed to trust Jesus, and so do we.
In Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; and Luke 24:5-7 an Angel of the Lord said, “He is not here, He is Risen. In John 20:6-9, Peter and John arrived at the tomb. Peter went in and studied what he saw. John came in after. He saw the burial head cloth folded separate from the linen. He believed.
We have the same choice to make each day. Do we believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Do we put our trust in Him that one day when we die (or He comes back [the resurrection]), we too will rise after we are dead if we have been born again (II Corinthians 5:8; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Today is the day to put your trust in Jesus Christ. If You have, then tell others that He has Risen! He’s Alive. We celebrate His Resurrection with a shout and a praise. Hallelujah to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is ALIVE!!!
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24
Mar '20
What Does The Lord Require Of Me?
24
Mar '20
Micah 6:8
The Lord requires of me according to Micah 6:8, to do Justly, to love Mercy, and to walk Humbly with my God. I want to be obedient to God and follow His word. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, I learn from the writings of Moses that he asked Israel, “What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”
God wants us to Fear Him reverently, to walk according to His precepts, love Him (with all of our hearts, soul, minds and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself Luke 10:27), serve the Lord (with gladness Psalm 100:2), and keep His commandments and statutes. While this all may seem overwhelming for You and I, the Lord tells us that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). It is in His strength by which we are able to live according to His Word.
God wants us to walk Justly just as Abraham did with his children. “That he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him (Genesis 18:19).” In fact, God wants us to “Act Justly”. During this season where we are not sure of the “goods” on the shelves, it will be easy for us to think only of ourselves and neglect our neighbor. In Micah’s day, injustice was a problem and God was showing His children how to act. We have an opportunity to show God’s love in how we handle ourselves in this crisis.
God wants us to love Mercy. In other words to show loving-kindness. The Hebrew word is hesed, which means “loyal love”. We, as His children, are mercy to those around us. Both justice and mercy are foundational to God’s character as we see in Psalms 89:14. Our Father wants us to show love to our fellow man and be loyal in our love towards Him. We may not be able to meet in our Sanctuary to worship together, but we can still be the church (Christ’s Bride) to our neighbor.
God wants us to walk Humbly. When we walk humbly, we are displaying our heart’s attitude toward God. We must depend on Him rather than our own abilities. Pride can easily slip in as we see what we have accomplished. We must realize what God has blessed us with, what He has given us and what He has protected us from. Our response to God of a godly heart is outward (do justice), inward (love mercy), and upward (walk humbly).
The way we act in front of people (outwardly) should reflect our hearts (inwardly). Therefore, let God Almighty have full reign of our upward allegiance to Him and Him alone. Give Him your heart and surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord. Let Him work out everything else. Blessing to you all as we trust in the Anchor to our soul.
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